Boost Drinks’ Simon Gray among Top 50 Most Ambitious Business Leaders

Simon Gray, founder and CEO of Boost Drinks, has been named as one of LDC’s Top 50 Most Ambitious Business Leaders for 2021. LDC is the private equity arm of Lloyds Banking Group.

The programme, which is supported by The Times and is now in its fourth year, celebrates the inspiring leaders behind some of the UK’s most successful and fast-growing medium-sized firms.

The featured Top 50 hail from every corner of the country and operate across a diverse range of sectors. Collectively, they employ more than 9,500 people and contribute more than £1.2 billion to the UK economy.

Gray (pictured) launched Boost Drinks in 2001 when he saw an opportunity in the high-growth energy drinks market. Since then, the business has expanded its range and entered into multiple functional drinks categories including isotonic sports drinks and ready-to-drink iced coffee and protein. The business has focused on introducing new flavour variants and park formats, as consumer tastes and demands change.

Today, Boost is still the only functional drinks brand that exclusively serves the independent convenience channel. The brand has also grown to boast one of the fastest-selling soft drinks and is one of only three energy brands in growth year-on-year in wholesale.

Going forward, Boost’s priorities are to continue to deliver sustainable growth as well as continuing to prioritise its relationships with independent retailers across the UK. In 2021, Boost acquired the sales, marketing and distribution rights for Hall & Woodhouse brand, Rio Drinks.

Gray commented: “I don’t get much chance to reflect but it is safe to say we’ve had an incredible 20 years and I am very proud of what we’ve achieved.

“We are very grateful to our loyal customers, employees and suppliers – the people who have been with us on the way – and we’re proud that over the years, we’ve become a business that people want to work both with and for. I have always been a forward-looking type of person, and I am confident our best years are still to come!

“Looking ahead, we’ll be focusing on more of the same – to increase store distribution, reach consumers who are yet to try us, launch new products into both high-growth and emerging categories, and explore even more overseas markets.”